Sunday, February 10, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Tuesday, August 22, 1911
Giboias Are Used as Domestic Rat Catchers in Brazil.
In certain parts of Brazil, where the climate is intensely hot and where rats are a great nuisance, the common cat does not thrive, but is replaced by a domestic rat catcher whose presence causes a decidedly unpleasant sensation to visitors from the north when first they come in contact with the creature.
Giboias are a species of small boa constrictor employed very generally in Brazil for the purpose above mentioned. They sleep in the house, generally taking up their position at the foot of the stairs. When nightfall approaches they begin to wake up, and during the night they slide swiftly about the premises, looking for rats.
Giboias are offered for sale in the markets of Bahia and Pernambuco for prices ranging from $1 to $5, according to the size of the creature. It is said that they are so easily domesticated that if removed from one house to another they invariably return to the house where they have been taken. Often when one is bargaining with the broker for the sale or lease of a residence in certain part of Brazil the broker will expatiate with great eloquence the virtues and skill of the Giboias that come with it.-Harper’s Weekly.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Monday, August 15, 1898
They Are One of the Interesting Sights These Days in Tampa-Mule Recruits from Cuba.
There are about 3,000 mules with the army in Tampa. Most of these are divided among the different regiments, where they are assigned to ambulances, to baggage wagons and to carry packs. About 500 remain with the quartermaster, who keeps them in a huge corral, where they are under the supervision of “Bob” and “Rafael,” two “cow punchers,” brought here to command this division of the army. They know about all there is to know about mules, and the many scars that Rafael carries attest a somewhat too intimate acquaintance at times.
In all cases where mules are used men of experience are required to handle them. The six-mule army team is a common sight on Tampa streets. The driver rides the “near” pole mule and guides the entire six by means of a single leather rein, called the “jerk line.” This connects with the “near” side of the mules’ bridles, so that he pulls steadily on it to guide the team to the left. When he wants to go to the right he jerks the line; that makes the near mules push against the “off” ones, and they consequently turn the other way. This sounds simple enough, but in reality the skill required can come only from long practice.
The mules are well aware when there is a novice at the “jerk line,” and will do as they please, especially when the long lash used by the drivers of the six-mule team does not reach its destination with the deadly aim of the old hand. The whip is, in fact, about as important as the “jerk line.” There are times in the mule’s life when his latent obstinacy comes to the surface, and a hundred “jerk lines” would be of no effect. The stinging lash then comes into play. It is long, round, pliable and thick, made for business and used for it. The strap which is connected with the wagon brake is hitched to the driver’s saddle, and he is obliged to manipulate this, too.
Even in its perfection mule driving is an art in which something must be left to fate. One of the best army mule drivers on the plains always shut his eyes tight when he came to a dangerous pass and kept them shut till a safer trail was reached. He was considered the safest driver in the service.
The driving of the pack mules is nearly always simplicity itself. A grey mare with a bell on her neck is led in front and the mules follow. No explanation is given for this except that mules are fond of horses, and a grey one is more easily seen.
The mule, in a way, is docile and easily taught. It takes only a short time to break in “recruit mules,” and when they get to work they show a wonderful endurance. They also eat less than the horse, and can go longer without water. The army mule’s daily ration consists of nine pounds of grain and fourteen pounds of hay. The fearful noise made by the mule, which comes in somewhere between a donkey’s bray and a horse’s neigh, is called by soldiers “the quartermaster’s band.
There are in the corral at Tampa now and scattered among the troops many members of that band of prize mules which was captured from the Spanish government on board the ship Catherine. They are branded with a “V” on the fore quarter, above which has been placed our “U. S.” and a “U” on the hind quarter, which is the initial of the Spanish quartermaster who purchased the mules in Texas for the Spanish government.-N. Y. Sun.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Published in the Sangamon Journal, Springfield,Illinois on Friday, April 6, 1849
Those having the care of these useful animals should never drive them so fast as to cause them great fatigue. A certain writer in remarking upon this subject, says:
“We sometimes see these animals moving so slow in the field and on the road that we can scarcely tell which way they are going. This mode of driving is wrong; let them travel at least two miles an hour, and stop occasionally for breath. In this way we prevent their acquiring that slow pace with which the ox is so frequently reproached; and there is no difficulty, with proper management, in keeping him to this pace of two miles per hour. The driver should never let his whip become too familiar with his team. If he suffers it to rest on his oxen’s back it is very likely to lose its charm; and a parent might as well give his rod to his child to play with.”
In Scotland the ox is trained to quick movement. He is never overloaded while young, and it is said, rarely falls short of three miles an hour, as a common “jug” either on the road or in the field. The slow, almost imperceptible progress of some teams while plowing, or performing other common operations, is of great fatigue, and can scarcely be dissociated, in the mind of the observer from that of extreme exhaustion and pain. When young, the ox is nimble and sprightly, and as susceptible of speed as the horse. Yet, by wrong habits, he becomes heavy and luggish in his movements, and finally acquires that slow, snail like pace, which so diminishes his value, as a draft animal, for most purposes, and which renders the driving of him wearisome and unpleasant in the extreme.-Germantown Telegraph.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Friday, September 29, 1911
School North of Wauconda is Suddenly Suspended With Neighboring “Butter” Butts into the School Affairs.
In Newport township north of Zion City there is a little teacher that has conquered a whole school board. She had them all doing odd jobs around the school building and none of them can realize why they are so obedient. Down in the town of Wauconda just north of Wauconda is a school Miss that is not so plucky. Monday morning after the children had filed into the school with their nice red apple in their hands, there came a sudden thump at the door which swung it open, and a “billy goat,’ scent and all proceeded to enter and was successful. The teacher, being frightened, ran to the street and called a passing milk man to take the animal out of the room, which he did and drove him in the woods. But a very short time elapsed until the “billy” came butting into the door again and this time he succeeded in breaking up the school for the day.It is said that the teacher snatched her hat and coat from the peg as she was hurriedly passing and went home where she remained all day.-Grayslake Times.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Wednesday, May 8, 1907
Probably all readers are familiar with the fact that in their native countries elephants are not only used to aid in the capture of their own species, but also in pursuit of various wild beasts of the jungle. In tiger hunting especially is this the case, the elephant is rather an unwilling participant. In his wild state there is no occasion for any conflict between himself and other dwellers of the forest. Living entirely on vegetable food, and so under no necessity of preying upon other animals, too peaceful to molest others, and too powerful to be molested by them. In a state of nature each seems anxious to avoid rather than to provoke any encounter. From very early times, elephants have not only been used in war and in industrial pursuits, but have added to the pomp and display of powerful rulers, and ages ago they were made to amuse the multitude by performances of course very dissimilar to those witnessed in our modern circuses. Elephants are considered to be the wisest and most powerful beast of the animal world.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Monday, July 29, 1907
It is said that Americans are the greatest meat eaters in the world, despite the fact that they have the widest choice of vegetables. Statistics prove that $100,000,000 more is spent on meat than on vegetables each year in America.-What to Eat.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Tuesday, July 23, 1907
Jay Bunchof Aberdeen, Wash., had an experience recently that bids fair to rival Roosevelt’s coyote yarn. Bunch is a flier at Larkin Bros.’ logging camp on the Wishkah, and with a friend and several dogs started out to find a bee tree. They had not gone far when the dogs started up a bear. Bruin took refuge in the top of a tree, but he was finally dislodged, and one of the dogs managed to get a good hold on the animal’s ear and hung there. Bunch had no other weapon than a jackknife, but he got it in working order and commenced the hand to hand battle. He struck the bear about forty times, finally severing his jugular vein, and Bruin, weak from loss of blood, gave up the fight. The bear’s hide was literally punctured with holes around the throat. The animal weighed about 300 pounds.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Monday, May 6, 1907
What might have proven a bad runaway, occurred yesterday afternoon. The Johnson laundry wagon, of Lake Bluff was being driven by Miss Lydia Johnson, who got out of the wagon and left the horse standing. Just as Miss Johnson came back the horse started to run. The girl grabbed the lines and clung to them. The frightened horse ran about two blocks the girl running along clinging to the lines. Two men came to the rescue and saved the situation.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Monday, May 6, 1907
This is the time of year when dogs seem to become ferocious and many people have been thoroughly frightened and narrowly escaped being bitten by dogs jumping upon them unceremoniously.
Yesterday O. D. Goss was bitten on the hand by a dog which he shot afterward. The wound is not serious, but had to be cauterized at once.
John Stevens, while walking along Twenty-second street, was attacked by a large black dog, and before he could throw him off, the animal had dug his teeth into Steven’s leg, inflicting a pretty bad wound. Dr. Connell attended both victims.
Officer Shoup was attacked by a dog in almost the same way a few days ago. His wound was not bad, but the dog’s teeth penetrated the flesh.
At this time of year, dogs should be muzzled in order to protect the public. The officers are keeping a strict watch, and any dog that seems inclined to molest people will be taken care of by them.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Published in the Waukegan Daily Sun, Waukegan, Illinois on Friday, May 3, 1907
Cat farms are numerous all over the country and that there is money in ostrich farms is proven by the fact that there are at present several in the United States that are paying handsomely.